pig iron en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈpɪɡ aɪən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (General-American) audio
- /ˈpɪɡ ˌaɪ(ə)ɹn/ (General-American)
Etymology
From pig (“animal of the family Suidae, especially the domesticated animal Sus domesticus; oblong block of cast metal (iron or lead)”) + iron. It appears that in early use sow was used to refer to larger blocks of smelted metal and pig smaller ones. From the 17th century, the words were adapted to newer methods of iron smelting, with pig used to describe blocks formed from molten iron served from the central channel (runner) of a pig bed which were said to resemble a litter of piglets nursing from a sow.
Meanings
-
(uncountable, usually) A brittle, impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore which is often shaped into blocks; it is unsuitable for working but suitable for casting, and so is commonly used as an industrial raw material; (countable) a sample of such iron.
We spent a lot of time up on the staging of the great furnaces, trying to pick up the tricks of the trade from the taciturn furnacemen who sat around placidly smoking, or chewing twist, and occasionally throwing in more pig iron to the molten white-hot metal.
1945 January and February, a former pupil [pseudonym], “Some Memories of Crewe Works—III”, in The Railway Magazine, London: Tothill Press, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 14:
- (countable, obsolete, usually) An iron plate which is hung between a piece of meat and the fire used to cook it to prevent the meat from burning if the fire is too hot.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| pig irons | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Hypernyms
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (63)
hi कच्चा लोहा (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · ru чу́шковый чугу́н (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · sl grodelj (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · cmn 銑鐵 /铣铁 (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · bn কাঁচা লোহা (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · gl gusa (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · id besi kasar (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · ms besi jongkong (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · hu nyersvas (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · tl ilik-bakal (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · es hierro colado (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · el αργός σίδηρος (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · tr pik demir (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · nan 鑄鉎仔 /铸𰽫仔 (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · ja 銑 (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · sq gizë (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · nb råjern (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · bg чугун на слитъци (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · sh сѝрово жѐљезо (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · nan 鉎仔 /𰽫仔 (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · nb råjern (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · si අමු යකඩ (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · cy haearn crai (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · es arrabio (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · fa آهن خام (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · pt gusa (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · pt ferro-gusa (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · id besi gubal (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · vi gang thỏi (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · cmn 生鐵 /生铁 (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · he ברזל גולמי (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · ko 선철 (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · sh sìrovo žèljezo (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · nb rujern (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · nb rujarn (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · cmn 鑄鐵 /铸铁 (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · ca lingot d'alt forn (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · ur کَچّا لوہا (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · mk су́рово же́лезо (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · hu disznó vas (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · de Roheisen (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · uk сире́ залі́зо (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · it ghisa grezza (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · sk surové železo (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · tyv шой (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · ja 銑鉄 (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · nb råjarn (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · uk переро́бний чаву́н (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · cy haearn hwch (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · ro fontă brută (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · fi takkirauta (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · sv tackjärn (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · eo krudfero (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · ar حديد غفل (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · eu arrabio (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · da råjern (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · pl surówka (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · nb rujern (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · cs surové železo (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · fi harkkorauta (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · ru переде́льный чугу́н (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · ga muciarann (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore) · fr fonte brute (impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore)